Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 2000-06-02

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Thessaloniki, June 2, 2000

SECTIONS

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS HEADLINES

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

NEWS IN DETAIL

[A] NATIONAL NEWS

[01] ENERGY COMMISSIONER LAUDS GREEK ECONOMY

European Union Commissioner Loyola de Palacio, one of the conference's keynote speakers, lauded Greece for its economic policy, expressing her confidence over the country's accession to the Economic and Monetary Union.

Greece's Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis is also a keynote speaker in the conference, which is organized by the European Commission and the Greek Ministry of Development.

The agenda includes issues on cooperation regarding energy, environment, petrol transport, natural gas transport, safe transport and financing of relevant projects.

[02] B.A., GREEK STATE DISCUSS ACQUISITION OF O.A. STAKE

While the deadline for the submission of bids expires on June 28, the Minister of National Economy and Finance Yiannos Papantoniou has said that "everything depends on the price".

According to press reports, the stake which the government is considering selling does not exceed 20 percent, while six percent will be given to employees, and a further 23 percent will possibly be floated in the stock market. The state is to retain at least 51 percent.

The same reports said that if the offer is not satisfactory, the government will unilaterally terminate the contract of the British managers of the carrier and issue a new invitation to tender.

The British Airways officials are to also meet with the Minister of Transportation Christos Verelis.

[03] PM AT "PROGRESSIVE GOVERNING IN 21ST CENTURY"

United States President Bill Clinton, European center-left leaders and representatives of Latin American countries are also taking part in the conference, while eight of the European Union's 15 member-states will be represented, along with Brazil, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and Israel.

The conference constitutes the first time that the central- left forces and the social democrats are searching for a cohesive strategy in the new era's problems.

As the Premier has stressed, this is the first time in Greece's modern history that the country has a role in activities that can shape the beginning of a change in the world's political character.

He has also stated that the conference "has to give essence to the future, discuss ways with other progressive leaders to avail the future to all, with equal opportunities, without exceptions," adding that "the conference will grant the 15 world leaders with the opportunity to search for answers for a progressive government, stemming from the common values that bind us, such as liberty, democracy, social justice, respect for human dignity, as well as solidarity and mutual responsibility."

The conference features the participation of those socialist leaders in the EU who are presently in office.

Aside from Mr. Simitis, other European leaders attending the event are the premiers of Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands and Sweden.

[04] KOSOVAR BUSINESSMEN IN THESSALONIKI ON SUNDAY

The delegates are interested in Greek products suitable for Kosovo's market, as well as in representing Greek firms in the tenders of international organizations promoting the work of reconstruction.

Greece's participation in the procurements of such organizations has increased from two to 20 present since the January visit.

[05] DYNAMIC MIX CONTINUES WITH KYPARISSIA LANDING

Today's landing was delayed for one day after a U.S. ship broke down.

Dynamic Mix this year includes Greek and Turkish forces for the first time, and Turkish commandos are among the 2,500 troops who will be involved in the beach landing today.

"Dynamic Mix 2000" will be completed on June 5 with maneuvers near Thessaloniki.

In addition to Greece's Defense Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos, others invited to attend that exercise are Turkey's commander at NATO headquarters in Izmir and ambassadors of the Alliance's member-states.

[06] GREEK MINISTER: EU NEEDS STRONG ENERGY MARKET

Inaugurating the two-day conference, organized by the European Union and Greece's development ministry, Mr. Christodoulakis said that "a necessary intermediate aim is to strengthen regional energy markets".

"However," he added, "creating a European energy market requires a regulatory framework to regulate private and state behavior and motives to implement the necessary energy infrastructure projects."

The conference aims to promote cooperation between the European Union and Black Sea and Mediterranean countries in major energy issues.

[07] GREECE BUYS 56 FIGHTER PLANE ENGINEES FROM P&W

Ôhe Åast Çartford-based Ñratt & Whitney, a division of United Ôechnologies Corp, will supply the F100-ÑW-229 engines, as well as logistical support and equipment for the F-16 Âlock 50+ aircraft.

While the contract is valued at 266 million drachmas, Pratt &Whitney will also supply 63 million drachmas worth of free equipment and services, the ministry said.

[08] STATE'S CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISOR ON EMU ENTRY

"Greece will enter the euro zone on June 19 when a decision will be taken by EU leaders, but formally its EMU membership begins on January 1, 2001," he said.

Furthermore, Mr. Stournaras noted that Greece's economic growth rates are higher than the EU average and that its membership in the euro zone will help in strengthening the euro currency.

[09] BILL CALLS FOR TIGHER RULES FOR STOCK MARKET

The bill is authorizing the Capital Market Committee to issue a Code of Ethics for companies that have joined the stock exchange. The code seeks to ensure equal treatment and the rights of shareholders, as well as conditions of transparency, so that the interested parties may be aware of the companies' financial state.

Furthermore, major shareholders of companies trading on the bourse will be obliged to announce in advance the sale or the purchase of their major share packages.

The same bill provides for greater power for the stock exchange board and the capital market committee, with regard to the endorsement of the companies' informative cards.

[10] NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE BUYS 90% STAKE OF UBB

The Bank's remaining ten percent will be kept by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the next two years.

National Bank, Greece's largest commercial bank, is aggressively seeking to position itself as a regional power within the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean.

It has branches in Albania and Romania and last month bought a 65-percent stake in Macedonia's Stopanska Banka. It also plans to open a branch in Istanbul.

[11] GREEK PRESIDENT WARMLY WELCOMED IN TORONTO

Yesterday, President Stephanopoulos was warmly welcomed by Toronto's Greek-Canadian community, the second largest after Montreal's.

[12] SAE'S MEDICAL RELIEF PROGRAM UP FOR AMA AWARD

Along with SAE, the non-governmental and non-profit organization Counterpart International - which was commissioned by SAE for overseeing the program in the Newly Independent States of the Former Soviet Union - is also a candidate recipient of the Dr. Nathan Davis International Award for Medical Care and Public Health.

"We are especially satisfied over the fact that the Medical Relief program for the Greeks and their neighbors in the Black Sea countries, which has been inn operation for more than a year, has been recommended for an award by such a distinguished professional organization such as the AMA," Mr. Athens stated.

The Medical Relief Prgoram is a candidate for the " Outstanding World Initiative for Health" award, as it "increases the public's access to flexible programs of quality preventive care."

The Medical Relief Program is a $100 million, three-year project to establish medical clinics in the Independent States. Three such clinics have been opened and are operating in Tbilisi, Tsalka and Tsitsihisvari in the Republic of Georgia. Plans for a major clinic have been approved for Mariupole, in Ukraine and similar programs will be established in Southern Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

When completed, the SAE Primary Medical Care network will service 750,000 Greeks and a similar number of their neighbors.

[13] BRITISH C/TEE TO REVIEW PARTHENON MARBLES ISSUE

The Committee, which will also examine various cases of stolen archaeological treasures, has received a report written by British journalist William Stewart which includes a series of proposals and suggestions in resolving the Parthenon Sculptures issue in a mutually-satisfactory manner.

The Greek delegation includes film director Jules Dassin, who was the husband of the late Melina Mercouri, and the Ministry of Culture's Secretary General Lina Mendoni.

[14] DEPLETED URANIUM BOMBS WERE USED BY NATO IN YUGOSLAVIA

The above are mentioned in a United Nations Environment Programme document that was published today by the Athens newspaper "Avgi". The UNEP is a UN organization responsible for environmental issues and after making autopsies on bombed areas in Yugoslavia it drew up a 104 pages report making detailed references to the bombardments, the targets hit and their effects on the population.

According to the text, NATO has confirmed to the UN that depleted uranium (DU) bombs were used during the war in Kosovo but the information provided did not include sufficient figures for the exact assessment of their effect on the environment and human health. According to the latest information on the DU bombs sent to the UN secretary-general by his NATO counterpart in a form of a letter accompanied by a map, they were used in over 100 missions conducted by A-10 aircraft that had dropped a total of 31.000 DU bombs. Most of those operations were centered at the region west of the Pecs-Dakovica-Prizren motorway, the region around the cities of Klina, Prizren and north of Suva Reka and Urosevac, while more DU bombs were dropped in other regions as well.

The UNEP mentions that in spite of the additional data there is still not enough information on where the biggest concentration of depleted uranium can be found in order to be able to reach objective and scientific conclusions on its effect on the environment and the people. It is also emphasized that the new information should not be a cause for wide-spread alarm.

[15] THE NATO EXERCISE "DYNAMIC MIX" IS IN PROGRESS IN KIPARISSIA

Problems occurred this morning during the landing of 2.500 marines in Kiparissia. A US landing craft participating in the exercise was unable to complete the landing because it run ashore near the Kiparissia coasts for an hour and could not reach the Turkish tank landing craft and bring the Turkish marines to the shore.

The landing was delayed for about 2 hours causing deep concern to the NATO chiefs of staff and a number of meetings were held to examine the problems, find solutions and complete the landing.

Undersecretary of defense Dimitris Apostolakis expressed the view that the exercise was a good idea because it gives the opportunity to the armed forces of Greece and Turkey to learn to cooperate with each other. He also added that taking under consideration the current political situation, Greece has made significant steps to limit the tension between the two countries.

The NATO exercise will be completed on June 5 in the region Askos-Profitis in Thessaloniki, with the participation of thousands of soldiers from Greece, the United States and Hungary. The land forces will have the backing of fighter planes and helicopters.

The final phase of the exercise will be watched by Greek minister of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos, the Turkish general commander of the NATO headquarters in Ismir, Greece's military leadership and the ambassadors of the NATO member-states headed by US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns.

[16] THE ND HONORARY PRESIDENT FAVORS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MOSQUE

Mr. Mitsotakis referred to the religious needs of the Muslims living in Athens or in any other part of the country and underlined that the Greeks is a people with a large diaspora and they have built Christian Orthodox churches from Australia to America, to South Africa and Korea. He said that when New Democracy was in power a relevant demand that had been submitted then had been accepted immediately and an initiative had been undertaken to find the right building site. Mr. Mitsotakis concluded that to hold a discussion on something that is self- evident exposes the country.

[17] THE GREEK GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS ON THE STATE AIRLINE HAVE COLLAPSED

Mr. Papantoniou has already announced an international tender for the sale of the company's 20% share and the simultaneous taking over of its management. He also clarified that the government's adviser on the tender will be made known next week and expressed the wish that the new international investor will take over before the end of the year.

Minister of transportation Christos Verelis will meet tomorrow with British managing director of Olympic Airways Mr. Rod Lynch in order to end the cooperation and finalize the timetable for the withdrawal of Speedwing from the management of the Greek airline. Referring to this fact Mr. Verelis spoke of an "amicable divorce".

Mr. Verelis stated that the goal for Olympic Airways is part of it to trade in the Athens Stock Exchange. He stated that interest has already been expressed by foreign banks and Greek investors but the basic goal is to place the airline in an international partnership in order to survive in the international competition. Mr. Verelis stated that EU guarantees on Olympic Airways have not been exhausted yet and this means that the company can borrow up to 50 billion drachmas.

[18] MARGINAL GAINS OF 0.02% IN THE ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE

Market circles have stated that the skepticism in the Athens Stock Exchange intensified with the collapse of the negotiations for the sale of 20% of Olympic Airways to British Airways. According to market analysts, skepticism was created because there were obstacles to the first privatization attempt made after the April 9 parliamentary elections.

[19] THE GREEK PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MET WITH THE EU COMMISSION VICE-CHAIRWOMAN

Mr. Kaklamanis stressed that the vision of the people of Europe and their expectations for a social and not just an economic European Union presuppose the strengthening of the representative institutions and their cooperation.

Ms. De Palacio agreed with Mr. Kaklamanis' views, adding that the Greek parliament does not create tensions with the European Parliament and is always guided by a spirit of cooperation.

[20] THE MINISTER OF MACEDONIA-THRACE MET WITH THE BULGARIAN UNDERSECRETARY OF NATIONAL ECONOMY

Mr. Paschalidis described the meeting as useful and said that they discussed issues concerning bilateral cooperation. He said that the Greek government backs the plan for the reconstruction of the Balkans that includes the economic development of all the Balkan states, the strengthening of democratic institutions, the regional cooperation and the gradual accession of those countries into the European Union.

From his side, the Bulgarian undersecretary of national economy stated that they discussed bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as the economic results of this cooperation. He said that the trade transactions showed an impressive improvement in the first trimester of the current year and added that the two sides want to cooperate in the infrastructure projects sector. He also stated that he fully backs the statement made by Mr. Paschalidis namely, that the two countries share a common goal, a common vision namely, peace, democracy and cooperation in the region.

[B] INTERNATIONAL NEWS

[21] TURKEY'S FORMER PM IN COURT ON CORRUPTION CASE

The committee voted nine to six to force Mr. Yilmaz and former trade and industry minister Yalim Erez to appear before the supreme court, but the move must be confirmed by an absolute majority of the full parliament later this month.

Messrs. Yilmaz and Erez are accused of abuse of power in connection with the 1998 transfer of a state-owned property near the northwestern city of Izmit to the country's most important private industrial group, Koc Holding.

In exchange, Koc Holding allegedly invested in US carmaker Ford's Turkish operations.

Mr. Yilmaz is the head of the center-right Motherland Party (ANAP), the third partner in the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, along with Ecevit's center-left Democratic Left Party and the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

Under Turkish law, any deputy convicted by the supreme court is permanently banned from political service.

[22] PRIME MINISTER SIMITIS' PRESS CONFERENCE IN BERLIN

Mr. Simitis pointed out that this is a period characterized by an exchange of views regarding the effects of globalization on unemployment issues and social justice in the new environment that is being formed.

Responding to the fears expressed by Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All of Greece, Greek prime minister stressed that in a period of a quest there must be new dynamics that could balance any grazing mentalities. The prime minister stated characteristically that this is not the end of ideologies but the end of dogmatism.

Responding to a question by MPA that concerned the views of Archbishop Christodoulos, who rejects globalization all together, the prime minister stated that globalization will not be blocked and this statement is not made in response to Archbishop Christodoulos. He said that the markets are expanding and the issue is to give to the united market that is being formed an easily controlled shape on the pattern of domestic markets.

Responding to another question by MPA, on whether he will meet with US president Clinton on the sidelines of the Berlin summit, Mr. Simitis said that he will meet with all the leaders attending the summit and there is always an opportunity for an exchange of views.

Mr. Simitis stated that the Berlin conference is placed within the framework of the efforts made by the governments and the political parties of the left and center-left to face the problems of globalization, the technological changes and the new international relations. Discussions within this framework have been made by the Socialist International as well, said Mr. Simitis, and an effort is being made for the adoption of a common point of view. He said that efforts continue and in the Berlin conference the leading role is played by German chancellor Gerhard Schreder, who called the conference after a cooperation with US president Bill Clinton, former Italian prime minister Massimo D'Alema and British prime minister Tony Blair.

Mr. Simitis said that Greece's role in the conference was secured by the economic progress it has made, its EU membership, its active role in south-eastern Europe and its good relations with all the participants. He said that the goal is to deal with the effects of globalization and its control, limit the negative phenomena and create positive prospects.

He also characterized the international economic groups, the genetically altered food and bio-technology as huge problems and stressed that ways must be found to deal with them.

[23] CLINTON: TURKEY MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT

In his speech delivered during the formal ceremony in Aachen, Germany he stated that there are two pieces of unfinished business. The first is to make southeast Europe part of the rest of Europe, stressing that this is the only way to make peace last in that bitterly divided region. He said that the goal is to de- Balkanize the Balkans and must help create a magnet that will bring people together, adding that this is what the Stability Pact that Germany helped to establish is designed to do, challenging the nations of southeast Europe to reform their economies and strengthen their democracies while more than $6 billion have been pledged to support their efforts.

He also stated that the West must remain unrelenting in its support for a democratic transition in Serbia, adding that there must be no future for Mr. Milosevic and his policy of ethnic hatred and ethnic cleansing.

Mr. Clinton stated that if south-eastern Europe is to be fully integrated into the continent Turkey also must be included. He said that he applauds the European Union decision to treat Turkey as a real candidate for membership and expressed the hope that Turkey and the European Union will make the next steps. The US president stated that this will be good for Turkey, good for southeast Europe, good for more rapid reconciliation between Greece and Turkey and the resolution of Cyprus and good for the entire world, which is still too divided over religious differences.

The second piece of unfinished business concerns Russia, said Mr. Clinton, stressing that an effort must be made to build a partnership with Russia that encourages stability, democracy, cooperative engagement with the West and full integration with global institutions, while he stated characteristically that this means that no doors can be sealed shut to Russia, not NATO's, not the EU's.

He said that America must continue to support Europe's most ambitious unification efforts and Europe as well should want to strengthen the alliance with America. Mr. Clinton said that we are actually connected more than ever as underwater cables allow us to send staggering amounts of e-mail and e-commerce to each other instantaneously, adding that one billion dollars in trade and investment goes back and forth every day, employing more than 14 million people on both sides of the Atlantic.

The US president stated that he expects that in a generation the EU will have as many as 30 members from the Baltics to the Balkans to Turkey and it will be a community of unprecedented cultural, political and economic diversity and vitality. He said that it will be a bigger Europe than Charlemagne ever dared dream, a reflection of our recognition that ultimately Europe is a unifying idea as much as a particular place.

Macedonian Press Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article